J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

THE SCOTTISH BORDER. l65
The Armestranges, that aye hae been
A hardie house, but not a hail,
The Elliots"' honours to maintaine.
Brought down the lave o' Liddesdale.
Then Tividale came to wi' speid ;
The Sheriffe brought the Douglas down,
Wi' Cranstane, Gladstain, good at need,
Baith Rewle water, and Hawick town.
Beanjeddart bauldly made him boun,
Wi" a' the Trumbills, stronge and stout ;
The Rutherfoords, with grit renown.
Convoyed the town of Jedbrugh out.
Of other clans I cannot tell,
Because our warning was not wide —
Be this our folks hae taen the fell,
And planted down pallionesf there to bide.
We looked down the other side.
And saw come breasting ower the brae,
Wi' Sir John Forster for their guyde,
Full fifteen hundred men and mae.
and found the ship covered with silke, more blacker than any beare ;
and therein was a gentlewoman, of great beautie, and she was richly
heseeue, that none might be better."
• Lave — Remainder. f PalUoHes — Tents.